By Deepak Joshi Pokhrel In 2017, while announcing the merging of two communists - CPN UML and Maoist-, Prchanda suggested that former Prime Minister and then Naya Shakti Party chief Dr Baburam Bhattrai withdrew his nomination for the house of representative seats from Gorkha-2 if he wants to save his position in politics. He even went on to say that Gorkha is not Dehli and neither is he another Kejriwal. Nearly after half a decade, the same Dr Baburam Bhattarai has surrendered his constituency to a former comrade in arms Pushpa Kumar Dahal Prachanda who was not leaving any stoned unturned to discredit Dr Bhattarai’s contribution to Nepal’s political transformation. His decision to give up contesting the upcoming election for the federal parliament scheduled to be held in November has surprised many. The political observers say that Bhattrai seemed to be in an extreme dilemma if we follow up and scrutinize his remarks, observations and statement made public in recent times. He was fed up with existing political chaos and hinted on many occasions to pass the leadership baton on to upcoming generations. While reaffirming the need for transformative politics to face the impending challenges, he called upon the young generation to take up the mantle of leadership and lead the country into a new era of prosperity and development. Dr Bhattrai’s exit from the electoral contest for power has won many admirers for him. Even his fiercest enemy and opponents have appreciated him for his decision and hailed it as an exemplary precedent and asked more than half a dozen elder septuagenarian politicians to follow Dr Bhattarai’s suit. They have admired him for his decision saying Bhattarai is not like present leaders who have the lust for power politics stagnating the party democratization and gridlock the country’s march for prosperity. Though I do not follow any political ideology whether left or right, Bhattarai was faring better among the present politicians in recent times. He understood the nerve of the people and always remained committed to working for the betterment of the country. As a finance minister, he took the bold and ambitious move that facelift our straining economy to large extent. However, he had to succumb to dirty internal politics and kept himself aloof from politics. Almost seven years ago, he resigned from the Constituent Assembly and now volunteer decision to abstain from polls as a candidate to represent Gorkha constituency. In both instances, he has demonstrated that he has no excessive lust for power. However, his recent decision to give up contesting the polls scheduled for November has drawn a mixed reaction. Many argue that Bhattrai opt out because he was losing his ground in his constituency and he fared to face the election result. On the other hand, there are people who say that Bhattarai was fed up with recurring political imbroglio and was desperately waiting for an opportunity to ensure his graceful exit. They also hold the view that Dr Bhattarai wanted to hand over the leadership charge to adolescent leaders taking the lead to march the country towards prosperity. At the same time, there are people who contend that Dr Bhattarai has a deep interest to promote his daughter Manushi Yami Bhattarai in politics. Whatever the reason for surrendering his candidacy to Prachanda, Dr Bhattarai looks different from present power-hungry mongers. While Dr Bhattarai's decision to give up his candidacy must have saddened many, Prachanda must be heaving a sigh of relief. Exception apart, Prachanda has never been positive towards Dr Bhattarai. Right from day one of the "people’s revolution", Prachanda has never liked him and his way of leadership. Reports from the past say that it is Prachanda who always wished to discredit Dr Bhattarai’s contribution to achieving the objective of the "people’s movement". Unfortunately, his much-touted Naya Shakti was also unable to offer something substantial to the people. Prachanda has always expressed dissatisfaction with dissatisfaction with Dr Bhattarai’s close relationship with the Delhi administration. Beset by the internal rift, Dr Bhattarai was reaching out to leaders of the Maoist floating the proposal to form a new party under his leadership. After the Dr Bhattarai and Prachanda's relationship reached an irreparable stage, the former decided to quit the party and formed Naya Shakti intending to finish the unfinished objective. What lies in store for Dr Bhattarai in the days to come is a matter of conjecture for many political onlookers and analysts. They question whether he will completely renounce politics and engage in intellectual and policy pursuits. They also question whether he will rejoin the Prachanda camp and work to strengthen the Maoist movement in Nepal. These are the question that will surely hunt the people as Dr Bhattarai has been a force to reckon with in the Nepali political spectrum. Now the same Dr Bhattarai is surrendering his candidacy to Prachand who always viewed Dr Bhattarai as his biggest enemy. Dr Bhattarai has proved that country and its people are his priority and he will even give up his candidacy if it benefits people. With his decision, one thing is very clear: The leaders should have the ability to hand over the leadership to the next generation and march towards development.